General

TIME MANAGEMENT – Schedule Specification Implementation (Part 1)

August 3, 2011 By George T McLaughlin PMP CCM

This Subject Series will address the sources and implementation of a contract schedule specification. The Subject Series structure will be multiple parts and be a logical extension of the series titled MANAGING RISK OF DELAY.

The overview of this series is:

Managing Risk of Delay – Schedule Preparation and Maintenance (Part 4)
Managing Risk of Delay – Schedule Specification Sources and Implementation (Part 8)
Overview (this post)
Paper by Mr. Stu Ockman – Making State of the Art Scheduling Specifications Work (presented in multiple parts).

The challenge associated with managing time is common to virtually all projects. This challenge is true for most project management situations. It is intensified in the case of larger and more complex projects. Examples include Lump Sum Turn Key (LSTK), Engineer Procure Construct (EPC), and other similarly executed projects. In addition to the normal issues associated with bulk progress, actions or inactions by the owner [employer], notice requirements, owner-furnished (free issue) equipment and others can add considerable complexity to this challenge. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Claims, Featured, General, Projects Tagged With: Construction Contract Planning and Scheduling, construction time management, Delay, George T. McLaughlin PMP, James O'Brian, Jon Wickwire, Managing risk of delay, McLaughlin & McLaughlin, Project Execution Plan, Project Execution Planning, Risk of Delay, Schedule Specification, Stuart Ockman, Time Management, Time Management Strategy

PROJECT MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES – Project Planning Lessons Learned (Part 7)

July 30, 2011 By George T McLaughlin PMP CCM

Planning the project properly, documenting the plan professionally and then implementing the plan successfully are likely the sources of most project success and failure outcomes. Learning from the experiences of others is an effective method for skill set development. Many organizations that use project management on an ongoing basis close out projects with a compilation of “lessons learned.” These firms have found value in studying the issues that have emerged in the past.

As part of the planning process, a review of relevant lessons learned can be instructive as well as a “sanity check” or completeness evaluation regarding the adequacy and comprehensive nature of your Project Management Plan.

This post continues the focus on issues in planning and problems that have their source or root cause in planning. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Claims, Featured, General, Projects Tagged With: Best Practice, Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), CIOB, Doctor Harold Kerzner, George T. McLaughlin PMP, Keith Pickavance, McLaughlin & McLaughlin, PMI, PMOK, Project Execution Plan, Project Execution Planning, Project Management, Project Management Challenges, Project Management Institute (PMI), Project Management Plan, Project Planning

PROJECT MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES – Project Planning Issues (Part 6)

July 25, 2011 By George T McLaughlin PMP CCM

Planning the project properly, documenting the plan professionally and then implementing the plan successfully are likely the source of most project success and failure outcomes. While project planning is one of the most fundamental skill sets in project management, the requisite processes and actions are not well developed or successfully implemented. There is value in the planning process and value in implementing a well documented plan. This was discussed in the prior post in this Subject Series.

Learning from the experiences of others is an effective method for skill set development. Many organizations that use project management on an ongoing basis close out projects with a compilation of “lessons learned.” These firms have found value in studying the issues that have emerged in the past.

This and several following posts focus on issues in planning and problems that have their source or root cause in planning. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Claims, Featured, General, Projects Tagged With: AACE International, Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), CIOB, Doctor Harold Kerzner, George T. McLaughlin PMP, Keith Pickavance, McLaughlin & McLaughlin, PMBOK, PMI, Project Execution Plan, Project Execution Planning, Project Management, Project Management Institute (PMI), Project Management Plan, Project Planning, Project Sponser

PROJECT MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES – Project Management Plan (Part 5)

July 20, 2011 By George T McLaughlin PMP CCM

This post is the fifth in a series of discussions regarding current challenges being encountered in today’s project management. More specifically, we have titled the series PROJECT MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES, since we intend to focus heavily on the managerial aspects of program / project management. This post addresses the Project Management Plan [also known as Project Execution Plan, Project Plan and other titles]. The last post (Part 4) addressed the project planning process.

Authoritative information and guidance regarding project management comes from many sources. A few that may be obvious include:

Project Management Institute [PMI]
Construction Industry Institute [CII]
The Chartered Institute of Building [CIOB]
Association for Advancement of Cost Engineering International [AACEI]
Many colleges, universities, community colleges, trade schools and other educational organizations.

In order to frame and organize this topic, we are using the PMI Project Management Processes for a Project as presented in A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK^® Guide).

Many discussion groups and forums can be helpful. These include AACE, PMI, LinkedIn and others. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Featured, General, Projects Tagged With: AACE International, Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), Doctor Harold Kerzner, George T., Keith Pickavance, McLaughlin & McLaughlin, Pickavance, PMBOK, PMI, Project Execution Plan, Project Execution Planning, Project Management, Project Management Challenges, Project Management Institute (PMI), Project Management Plan, Project Planning, Project Sponser

PROJECT MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES – Project Planning Process (Part 4)

July 15, 2011 By George T McLaughlin PMP CCM

This post is the fourth in a series of discussions regarding current challenges being encountered in today’s project management. More specifically, we have titled the series PROJECT MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES, since we intend to focus heavily on the managerial aspects of program / project management. This post addresses the project planning process. This is a crucial challenge and the importance of this process cannot be overstated.

Authoritative information and guidance regarding project management comes from many sources. A few that may be obvious include:

Project Management Institute [PMI]
Construction Industry Institute [CII]
The Chartered Institute of Building [CIOB]
Association for Advancement of Cost Engineering International [AACEI]
Many colleges, universities, community colleges, trade schools and other educational organizations.

In order to frame and organize this topic, we are using the PMI Project Management Processes for a Project as presented in A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK^® Guide).

Many discussion groups and forums can be helpful. These include AACE, PMI, LinkedIn and others. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Claims, Featured, General, Projects Tagged With: CIOB, Doctor Harold Kerzner, George T. McLaughlin PMP, Keith Pickavance, McLaughlin & McLaughlin, Pickavance, PMBOK, PMI, Project Execution Plan, Project Execution Planning, Project Management, Project Management Plan, Project Planning, Project Sponser

MANAGING RISK OF DELAY – Schedule Specification Sources and Implementation (Part 8)

July 11, 2011 By George T McLaughlin PMP CCM

This post is the eighth in a series of discussions regarding various aspects of time management as it relates to the risk of delay. More specifically, we have titled the series MANAGING RISK OF DELAY, since we focus heavily on the managerial aspects of program / project management. This post addresses implementing and using a schedule specification as a managerial tool.

The challenge associated with managing time is common to virtually all projects. This challenge is true for most project management situations. It is intensified in the case of larger and more complex projects. Examples include Lump Sum Turn Key (LSTK), Engineer Procure Construct (EPC) and other similarly executed projects. In addition to the normal issues associated with bulk progress, actions or inactions by the owner can add considerable complexity to this challenge. Over the past seven years, M&M has program/project managed five projects exceeding $100 million (USD) in investment value (total installed cost). Thus, practical/practioner experience is engendered in this discussion/post. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Claims, Featured, General, Projects Tagged With: Construction Contract Claims, Construction Contract Planning and Scheduling, Delay, Earned Value Management, George T. McLaughlin PMP, Managing risk of delay, McLaughlin & McLaughlin, Productivity Management, Project Execution Plan, Project Execution Planning, Risk of Delay, Schedule Specification, Time Management, Time Management Strategy

PROJECT MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES – Project Initiation Lessons Learned (Part 3)

July 5, 2011 By George T McLaughlin PMP CCM

This Lessons Learned in Project Initiation post is the third in a series of discussions regarding current challenges being encountered in today’s project management world. We have titled the series PROJECT MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES, since we intend to focus heavily on the managerial aspects of program / project management. This post addresses the starting point or initiation of the project. This is a crucial challenge.

The study of lessons learned creates relevance and importance in (sometimes) abstract concepts. It answers queries regarding the practical side of the issue. There is a famous quote out there that talks about those that refuse to study history. It is suggested that you avoid reliving the mistakes experienced by others. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Featured, General, Projects Tagged With: Construction Contract Planning and Scheduling, Construction Management, Construction Management Blog, Construction Management Services, Earned Value Management, George T. McLaughlin PMP, McLaughlin & McLaughlin, Preliminary Project Scope Statement, Project Charter, Project Execution Plan, Project Execution Planning, Project Initiation, Project Management, Project Scope Statement, Project Sponser

PROJECT MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES – Project Initiation (Part 2)

June 29, 2011 By George T McLaughlin PMP CCM

This post is the second in a series of discussions regarding current challenges being encountered in today’s project management. More specifically, we have titled the series PROJECT MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES, since we intend to focus heavily on the managerial aspects of program / project management. This post addresses the starting point or initiation of the project. This is a crucial challenge.

Authoritative information and guidance regarding project management comes from many sources. A few that may be obvious include:

Project Management Institute [PMI]
Construction Industry Institute [CII]
The Chartered Institute of Building [CIOB]
Association for Advancement of Cost Engineering International [AACEI]
Many colleges, universities, community colleges, trade schools and other educational organizations.

In order to frame and organize this topic, we will use the PMI Project Management Processes for a Project as presented in A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK^® Guide).

Many discussion groups and forums can be helpful. These include AACE, PMI, LinkedIn and others. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Featured, General, Projects Tagged With: Doctor Harold Kerzner, Earned Value Management, PMBOK, Preliminary Project Scope Statement, Project Charter, Project Execution Plan, Project Execution Planning, Project Initiation, Project Management, Project Sponser

PROJECT MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES – Introduction (Part 1)

June 25, 2011 By George T McLaughlin PMP CCM

This post is the first in a series of discussions regarding challenges being encountered in current project management. More specifically, we have titled the series PROJECT MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES, since we intend to focus heavily on the managerial aspects of program / project management. This post introduces the topic and sets the framework for ongoing posts on individual challenges. This series is intended to draw upon many sources within the project management discipline or profession.

Authoritative information and guidance regarding project management comes from many sources. A few that may be obvious include:

Project Management Institute [PMI]
Construction Industry Institute [CII]
The Chartered Institute of Building [CIOB]
Association for Advancement of Cost Engineering International [AACEI]
Many colleges, universities, community colleges, trade schools and other educational organizations.

In order to frame and organize this topic, we will use the PMI Project Management Processes for a Project as presented in A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK^® Guide).

Many discussion groups and forums can be helpful. These include AACE, PMI, LinkedIn and others.

Some blogs (other than this one) provide useful information. Consider:

Filed Under: Featured, General, Projects Tagged With: Earned Value Management, Preliminary Project Scope Statement, Project Charter, Project Execution Plan, Project Execution Planning, Project Initiation, Project Management, Project Sponser

PRODUCTIVITY SERIES REVIEW

June 22, 2011 By George T McLaughlin PMP CCM

Productivity has become a hot topic and has given rise to much discussion and debate in the project management world. Labor productivity can be a competitive advantage or a managerial disaster. Therefore, we believe that there is high potential benefit in a review of McLaughlin & McLaughlin’s Productivity Series. Below, we have the titles and links to each post followed by a brief summary of the content. We intend to augment these posts with additional writings on the subject.

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